Oakington Scrapbook 1897 To 1990

Oakington Scrapbook 1897 to 1990 by Mike Petty

Oakington Scrapbook 1897 to 1990

Facts, Features and (occasional) Fallacies
reported in Cambridge Newspapers

summarised by

Mike Petty

Many of these stories were featured in my ‘Looking Back’ column in the Cambridge News from
1996-2014. They are supplemented by some selections ‘From our Old Files’ published in the
Cambridge Independent Press and other notes.

The complete ‘Cambridgeshire Scrapbook’ of which this is a small section is published online at

bit.ly/CambsCollection

I have digital and other copies of most of the stories summarised.

I hope to publish these online one day. If you would like them in the meantime then please get in

touch.

The original volumes are housed in the Cambridgeshire Collection at Cambridge Central Library
where there are many other indexes dating back to 1770.

They also have detailed newspaper cuttings files on over 750 topics that have been compiled since the

1960s.

Newspapers sometimes get things wrong. I copy things out incorrectly. Do check
There are a multitude of spelling and layout errors. Please forgive or correct them
News never stops but this file was finished on 31 August 2016.

I will maintain supplements and corrections - contact me for anything you need
Please make what use of these notes that you may. Kindly remember where they came from
See my website - www.mikepetty.org.uk for further notes.

Mike Petty, Stretham
2016

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1897 07 21
Oakington show, p2

1900 07 25

The plan adopted in the villages of amalgamating for the purposes of holding horticultural shows is
one to be commended in order to secure friendly rivalry between them. The parishes of Oakington,
Westwick & Longstanton followed this course when the society was inaugurated ten years ago and
the exhibitions arranged since have met with a measure of success that has continually stimulated its
members. The exhibits were a very level lot. The peas, horned carrots & potatoes might be singled out
for special mention. A small dish of curious peas of the Ashley Duke variety caused a sensation.
Thurston’s steam horses were in attendance & in the evening the villagers thronged into the ground in
large numbers.

1904 08 06

The current issue of the ‘Strand Magazine’ possesses a special interest for Cambridge people since the
town has furnished Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with material for his latest Sherlock Holmes story, The
Missing Three-quarter. It concerns the disappearance of a member of the Cambridge University
rugger team on the eve of the annual match against Oxford. Holmes is supposed to visit Cambridge,
residing in an inn next to a bicycle shop; he explores Histon, Oakington and Waterbeach before the
final scene of the story is set in a lonely cottage in a field near Trumpington.

1905 1 1 04

Justices awarded compensation under the scheme for reducing the number of public houses. They
included the Hoops pubs in Kneesworth, Melbourn and Steeple Morden, the Sir Harry Smith at
Swavesey and the Ram’s Head at Swaffham Bulbeck. In Oakington The Windmill, King’s Head and
Plough and Harrow were closed. But the closure of the ‘Wait for the Bus’ at Bottisham was contested;
others Rams Head, Swaffham Bulbeck; Swaffham Prior: White Hart; Swavesey: Railroad, Bird in
Hand; Cottenham: Windmill; Dry Drayton: Rose and Crown 05 1 1 04b-d

1906 03 27

When Cambridgeshire magistrates started the task of extinguishing licences of public houses thought
to be superfluous the offers of compensation were accepted in all but three cases. These were the Wait
for the Bus at Bottisham, the Sir Harry Smith at Swavesey and the King’s Head, Oakington, all owned
by Hudson’s Brewery of Pampisford. Now the Inland Revenue Commissioners have awarded larger
sums for two, but reduced the amount offered for the Wait for the ‘Bus from £355 down to £120. Now
the brewery may appeal 06 03 27a

1908 07 31

Twenty-six licensed houses are to close, magistrates decided. They include the Robin Hood at
Litlington, Chesterton Long Reach, Swaffham Prior’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Three Jolly
Watermen in Waterbeach Fen. But the Fox in the Wood at Soham and the Cock at Isleham were
spared after Police Superintendent Winter failed to appear to give evidence. The licence of the Black
Horse at Over was renewed after the Star Brewery appealed, also Barrington Boot & Shoe,
Bassingbourn Yew Tree, Steeple Morden Lion, Swaffham Prior John Bull, Bottisham Rose & Crown,
Cottenham Six Bells, Oakington Lion and Lamb, Stapleford Hammer & Anvil, Swavesey Chequers,
Willingham Little Rose, Castle Camps George, Balsham Ram, Linton White Hart, Cambridge
Yorkshire Grey, Old Red Lion, Nine Pines, Thatched House, Baker’s Arms, Red Lion, Brewery Tap
& Carpenters’ Arms. CWN 08 07 3 1

1908 08 13

Oakington new church organ - CWN 08 08 14
1908 10 02

Oakington Rovers Football Club has had a very hard struggle to exist as players could seldom get off
work on Saturday afternoons when a match was arranged. It will be discontinued, the goal posts sold

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and any money given to Addenbrooke's Hospital. The chairman, Mr H. Orman had been involved in
the club from its birth and was sorry to see it come to such an untimely end but there was no other
way out of the difficulties they were in. A supper and smoking concert would be held to mark the
death of a promising football club. CWN 08 10 02 p8

1909 09 17

All Cambridge will soon be taking a deep personal interest in aviation. In a large barn at Oakington is
the slim wooden skeleton of one of the first all-British monoplanes. The plane, which will soon be
completed and ready for trial spins, is the joint work of Messrs A.M. Grose and N.A. Feary, two
expert London engineers. It will be fitted with a 20 horse-power engine and has already been entered
for the ‘Daily Mail’ £1,000 prize for the first circular flight by an all-British aeroplane. They selected
Oakington for the express purpose of dodging inquisitive Press but gave a courteous interview to the
News representative. CWN 09 09 17 & CWN 09 09 24

1909 10 08

Oakington aircraft news - 09 10 08

1909 11 26

There had been a serious outbreak of diphtheria at Stapleford resulting in two deaths. The Sanitary
Inspector has secured permission to use an old school for an Isolation Hospital and to move the nurses
and the children there. Bedding had been secured from the Oakington Isolation Hospital but there
were still one or two items of furniture needed. He could not use the Histon Isolation Hospital because
there were so many cases of scarlet fever there and it would be impossible to allot separate wards for
each disease. Also complaint about the Oakington hospital. CWN 09 1 1 26

1910 03 11

On Tuesday evening a motor cycle with trailer came to a standstill on the Huntingdon Road near
Oakington because of a puncture. It was dark but three cottages were close by, so the cyclist and his
passenger took the machine into the room of one of them to repair the damage. While searching for
the puncture with the aid of a light, the petrol became ignited and the carpet and other contents of the
room were damaged. Some of the occupants who had retired to rest hastily left their beds in alarm.

The cyclist and his friend then proceeded to the Five Bells and the landlord drove them, cycle and
trailer in a pig float back to St Ives. 10 03 1 li

1910 05 20

Sixty-eight cases of scarlet fever (none fatal) were recorded in Chesterton Rural District last year of
which 50 were removed to the Isolation Hospital at Oakington together with 44 cases of diphtheria (6
fatal) some of which were removed to a temporary hospital in connection with the outbreak at
Stapleford. There were ten cases of typhoid (3 fatal) and three of puerperal fever. During the year 156
new houses were erected and eight cases of overcrowding were dealt with, the Medical Officer
reported - 10 05 20

1910 06 24

A weird-looking object passed through Oakington the other day and people hurried into the streets
thinking that at last they might see an aeroplane in action. On closer inspection, to their great
disappointment, they discovered that the strange object was merely an ordinary farm water cart being
towed by another cart, its unusual appearance being due to the stern end being foremost. The punders
were fastened to the cart while the shafts stuck out behind. 10 06 24h

1910 07 09

On Saturday an Oakington farmer lost a flock of 83 sheep but, like Little Bo-Peep, he left them alone
and hoped they would come home. Then on Sunday he hired a motor car and scoured the country
visiting Bottisham, Newmarket, Shelford and other places too numerous to mention. At length
discouraged and with the petrol tank running how, he turned towards home and when nearing the Five

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Bells on the Huntingdon Road espied them in front of him. Had the farmer only had the faith of Miss
Bo Peep he would have saved himself a long motor ride. 10 07 09g

1911 09 22

With the exception of damson and late apples, the fruit gathering at Cottenham is nearly over and the
trolley loads so numerous a week or two past, are becoming more rare. The season, especially in the
Victoria plum pulling period, has been a heavy one for fruit carriers, over 50 tons a day being a
frequent consignment from Oakington Station to London and other markets 1 1 09 22e

1911 11 03

Two unusual events occurred at Oakington. Several women had obtained employment in a
neighbouring village gathering potatoes, but on Tuesday decided to strike for more wages. As they
could not come to terms, they left the work and returned home. Much excitement was caused on
Wednesday afternoon by the sight of an aeroplane flying over Oakington. This is the first one that has
passed over this village. Many of the inhabitants had a good view of it 1111 03f

1912 06 07

Oakington man fell off horse into pond; narrow escape thunderstorm Arthur Ellsdon - 12 06 07m

1912 09 27

The epidemic of diphtheria at Willingham lasted eleven weeks and was complicated by an outbreak of
scarlet fever at the same time - out of 22 households, 12 had both. It had been spread by school
assemblage and social intercourse, not by milk or other food stuff. The infection had travelled from
London by way of Hauxton and the Isolation Hospital at Oakington. A house had been made into a
temporary hospital to which 20 cases were admitted and this, together with swabbing of all known
contacts and the disinfection of houses and clothing meant the outbreak had now practically ceased.

12 09 27i

1913 02 07

Oakington farmer Thomas Cocker death
1913 04 11

Oakington off to Canada. Some excitement was caused at Cottenham by the descent of a balloon in a
field of Mr Lewin’s on the Oakington Road. There were two occupants who hailed from Famborough
and were out for military practicing purposes. The balloon was packed up and conveyed to Cambridge
station by Mr F. Norman 13 04 18 pl2 CLP

1913 06 20

Oakington blacksmith accident
1913 09 12

Oakington child railway accident

1913 10 24

Oakington butcher leaves for Canada

1914 07 03

Oakington houses poor: Inspector of nuisances reported a bad case of overcrowding at Oakington
where a small cottage with one lean-to bedroom was occupied by a man and wife and six children.
There was also said to be a lodger. There were no other houses in the village at al. They had been
trying to build some cottages for six months but had been unable to do so. Under the present
circumstances it looked as if no cottage would be built for at least twelve months. The landlord would
not spend a penny on the place. The Medical officer applied for a closing order. In another house
occupied by an elderly couple the landlord did not care whether it was closed or not. His tenants did
not ay much rent and he would probably use it as stables or warehousing. Three houses adjoining one

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another were extremely old and very dilapidated and the inspector felt almost afraid to walk across the
bedroom floor. Mr Rowley asked if they could not have a good fire there. It would be a good thing
provided no one was hurt. But it was a serious thing to close five houses in one parish. The people
could not find houses. But these could be repaired and put in order but the landlord objected to do any
repairs and unofficially he declined to do any. A closing order did not mean ejectment. It gave the
landlord warning to repair the houses and make them habitable or close them.

1914 08 14

Red Cross hospitals have been equipped throughout the county. At Cottenham 40 beds are ready at
one hour’s notice, 25 are ready for wounded at Histon Council School, Oakington has 15. At
Waterbeach the Baptist Sunday Schoolroom is equipped as a hospital with nurses in uniform
presenting a neat appearance. At Newmarket thirty beds are fitted in the King Edward VII Memorial
Hall. Should 100 wounded men be sent further beds will be fitted in the Astley Institute, Town Hall
and Technical Institute. 14 08 14 p8

1914 09 18
Recruiting Oakington

1914 10 30

Enlistment Hardwick, Histon, Oakington, Litlington, Guilden Morden,

1914 11 06

Belgians - Littleport, Burwell, Chatteris, Duxford, Comberton, Sawston, Elsworth, Fen Drayton,
Swavesey, Fordham, West Wickham, Wicken, Gamlingay, Willingham, Madingley, Isleham,
Landbeach, Linton, Lode, Oakington,

1914 12 04

Cat's Long Journey. — Mr. J. Charles, who until recently resided in this village (Oakington), moved a
few weeks a so to Chelmsford, where he is employed by the G.E.R. Strange to say, the other day the
he took with him his cat, and animal suddenly made its appearance in its old home, having found its
way back.

1917 03 07

The Mail Cart - On Wednesday evening last the mail cart, which has been running for about 20 years
between Cambridge and Willingham, via Milton. Landbeach, Cottenham and Rampton, could be seen
making its last journey. Arrangements have now been made for the Cottenham and Rampton mail in
future to come from Cambridge to Oakington station by train. Mr. Albert Young, of Rampton, has
been appointed to fetch the mail from Oakington in the morning and to carry it to Oakington in the
evening, Owing to these alterations, the Cottenham letters will be delivered an hour later than usual.
The mail in the evening will so out at 8.45 instead of 8 o'clock, necessitating the posting of letters an
hour and a quarter earlier than usual. The mid-day delivery will remain as before. 'There will in future
be no delivery or dispatch on Sundays.

1917 10 10

Fall of Jerusalem. — The bells were rung at the Parish Church (Oakington) when the news was
received of the fall of Jerusalem, and a thanksgiving service was held.

1918 03 06

County licensing - Tailor’s Arms Comberton, Garden Gate at Histon, Horseshoe Fen Drayton, Swan
with Two Necks Swavesey, Harvest Home Oakington referred - 18 03 06b, c

1918 07 24

Licensing meeting; Star Brewery’s Racehorse renewed, Earl of Durham on Newmarket Road; Johnny
Gilpin, Gold Street; Horseshoe, Fen Drayton; Swan with two necks, Swavesey; Garden Gate, Histon
closed; Harvest Home, Oakington renewed - 18 07 24a # c

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1920 08 1 1

Football - The annual meeting of the Histon and District Football League was held in the Histon
Institute on Wednesday evening. Mr. L. R. Neaves, of Coton, occupied the chair, and was supported
by the hon. secretary of the League (Mr. J. Harold Peck), and there were representatives from the
following clubs: Willingham, Cottenham North End, Milton, Comberton, Histon Institute, Girton,
Oakington, Cottenham, Horningsea and Coton. Apology for non-attendance was received from Over
Hotspurs. Mr. John Chivers was re-elected president of the League, arid the following vice-presidents
were also elected, subject to their consent: Dr. J. M. King (Willingham), Mr. Arthur Rhodes (Histon),
the Rev S. T. Adams (Cambridge). Dr. Balsam (Girton). Mr. F. H. Keats (Milton), Mr. T. F. Essex
(Milton), Mr. Thomas Ivatt (Cottenham), the Rev. W C. Cooke, R.D, and the Rev. R. Smith (Histon),
Mr. Philip Papworth (Oakington), Mr. John Papworth (Landbeach), the Hon. E, S. Montagu, M.P. Mr.
G. Rogers (Comberton), Mr. Gordon Baker (Girton), Dr. Ellis (Cottenham), Mr. B. W. Silk (Coton),
and Rev. David Oliver (Over). Mr. A. T. Rogers was re-elected hon. treasurer and Mr. J. Peck
auditor. Mr. J, Harold Peck was re-elected hon. secretary, and Mr. L. B. Neaves (Coton) chairman of
the council. The secretary's report, which was very satisfactory, was presented by Mr. J. H. Peck.
Over Hotspurs were the winners of the cup, with Coton runners-up. The treasurer's report was also
presented, and showed a satisfactory balance in hand. Various alterations were made to the rules of
the League and it was decided this year to present twelve medals instead of eleven as heretofore. The
entrance fee to clubs this season is 10s. Entries close September 1.

1923 01 05

Mr Francis told Chesterton Board of Guardians that Oakington was supplied with water from a well
on Queens' College Farm. There was an agreement between the trustees of Marsh's Charity and the
Council for the pipe to pass through the land. The agreement terminated in 1922 and the Council had
been given notice to terminate the agreement which would mean that the whole water supply of the
village would be cut off. This would lead to the installation of a new well as the expense of the parish.
The Clerk said he thought it was only a matter of rent

1925 04 1 1

About 120 members of the 1st Cambridgeshire Regiment are spending the Easter weekend under
canvas at Madingley. The Cambridge-St Neots road acted as part of the front line of a British force
which was endeavouring to repel an invader marching on London. The Norfolk Brigade was ordered
to take up position from Oakington to Comberton. The work was carried out under service conditions
& proved exceptionally difficult on account of the wooded nature of the country in front

1930 08 20

There are only seven patients at Oakington Isolation Hospital, the cases were chiefly scarlet fever and
the virulence of this disease was decreasing. The matron and porter have retired due to ill-health. It
would be best to close it and arrange for Cambridge sanatorium to take the patients. But the cost of
maintenance there was three shillings and sixpence more a week, councillors were told. 30 08 20d-e

1931 11 13

The reopening of the Oakington Women’s Institute was celebrated by a social and dance. Music was
provided by Mrs E.C. Papworth at the piano and Mr Boutellier’s jazz band was very much
appreciated. The competition cake was won by Miss Francis and the mysterious competition for
gentlemen by Mr W. Elmore. Oakington ladies should be proud that their menfolk took a great
interest in the movement. 31 11 131

1936 02 01

Chesterton RDC’s scheme to enlarge their isolation hospital at Oakington spoiled the County plans
for accommodating small-pox patients, the Medical Office complained. In the event of an outbreak it
was the usual practice that one of the existing isolation hospitals should be immediately vacated and
used for small-pox cases. Oakington was ideal for this. Within 24 hours all the ordinary patients could

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be transferred and in another 48 hours it could be ready for use. The Ministry of Heath should hold an
inquiry. 36 02 Ola

1937 01 15

The head offices and showroom of the Cambridge University and Town Gas Light Company in
Sidney Street, where all the most modern and efficient appliances for heating, cooking, refrigeration
and lighting can be seen, were built in 1909. Today the total number of consumers is in the region of
25,000. Recently the villages of Willingham, Longstanton and Oakington were supplied with gas and
mains are being laid to Sawston. 37 01 15b

1938 01 26

Oakington Isolation Hospital to be closed with cases transferred to Cambridge - 38 01 26

1939 11 30

Over possessed an obsolete Merryweather manual fire engine dated 1789 which with three lengths of
unserviceable hose and eleven buckets was valued at £7 10s. Willingham’s 1827 manual engine with
trailer tank, ladders and hose was valued at rather more - £14. Other parish engines at Caxton,
Cottenham, Horningsea, Oakington and Swavesey would be acquired by Chesterton District Council
at the valuation price 39 1 1 30

1940 03 12

Waterbeach and Oakington manual fire engines in yard to be broken up - photo - 40 03 12

1940 02 23

Former Vicar's New Living. — The many friends in the village (Oakington) of the Rev. W. W. Lillie,
formerly vicar of the parish, will be interested to learn that he has been appointed to the living of
Cheddar, Somerset, where he was instituted on Saturday by the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

1941 06 13

Longevity, — Paragraphs in the London newspapers often tell of longevity in Cambridgeshire villages,
particularly those in or bordering upon the Fens (says Watchman). In January, 1910, for instance,
most of the daily newspapers told of Over being notable for its old people, saying that of a population
of 860 there were 76 persons between 70 and 90 years of age. A remarkable instance of contemporary
longevity occurs in the history of Oakington, a village figuring in the old records as Hokington. In the
year 1315, during the reign of Edward the Second, there were living in the village at the same time
one person 120 years of age, two who were upwards of 100, and two who were 95 years of age. These
facts were recorded in the proceedings in a tithe cause, recorded in the register of Crowland Abbey.

1941 06 20

Old-time names of villages. — The recent paragraph giving the old-time names of several
Cambridge streets has led a correspondent to compile from old books and documents a list of some
old-time village names (says Watchman). Most of these old names, it may be said, are taken from the
"Cambridgeshire"' section of "Magna Britannia." a valuable work compiled by the Rev. David Lysons
and Mr. Samuel Lysons and published in the year 1808. The present-day name is given first, the old
name following it in parentheses; Abington Pigotts (Abington in the Clay). Babraham (Baburham,
Badburgham, and Badburham), Burrough Green (Burgh), Coton (Cotes), Croydon (Crawden),
Fowlmere (Foulmire and Fulmere), Harston (Harlston), East Hatley (Castell Hatley), Hatley St.
George (Hungry Halley), Hauxton (Hawkstpn), Cherry Hinton (Hinton), Oakington (Hokington),
Isleham (Iselham), Horningsea (Hornsey), Kirtling (Chartelinge. Catlige and Catlage). Pampisford
(Pamps -worth), Quy or Stow-cum-Quy (Stow-Qui), Thriplow (Triplow). There are, of course, very
much older and more peculiar names to some villages, notably those in the Domesday Book,
compiled in the time of William the Conqueror and finished in the summer of 1086. The above old
names, however, are some which appear to have been in use in comparatively modern times, or, say,
133 years a so.

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1941 10 03

Presentation to Stationmaster. — On the occasion of his leaving Oakington after five years as
Stationmaster to take up an appointment as sack auditor at Crewe, Mr. Jenkinson has been presented
with a hall set, subscribed for by the staff at Oakington station. Mr. Rutledge, the chief clerk, who
made the presentation in the presence of the staff, expressed their regrets at losing such a good
Stationmaster and friend, and wished Mr. Jenkinson and his family every success and happiness in
their new surroundings.

1942 03 28

Fred Pearson of Westwick Hall Farm, Oakington awarded medal for saving airmen when plane
crashed and caught fire nearby - 42 03 28

1943 01 21

Oakington Baptist chapel dispute - pastor locked out and set up elsewhere -43 01 21,21a
1943 07 23

Day School Festival — Last Sunday was observed in the parish church (Oakington) as the day school
festival. At the evening service the visiting preacher was the Lord Bishop of Ely. During the service
the children sang some of their favourite hymns. There was a good congregation. The collection
throughout the day were given to the Day School Managers' Fund,

1943 09 03

New Stationmaster — The L.N.E.R. announces that Mr. A. E. Stalley, stationmaster, Saltfleetby, has
been appointed Stationmaster at Oakington.

1946 09 1 1

Oakington RAF Pathfinder station opens public - 46 09 11

1947 06 1 1

As an emergency measure the Public Health Committee of Cambridgeshire County Council has
agreed that the Infectious Diseases Hospital be made available for any initial cases for which
observation in hospital might be necessary, until the smallpox hospital at Oakington could be opened.
Following further negotiations the National Fire Service is now prepared to allow the Council to
retain the static water tank on the Romsey Recreation Ground (it has been proposed that it shall be
used as a children’s paddling pool), and to pay the Council £107. 8s. lOd, the revised estimate of the
cost of demolition and reinstatement of the site

1948 01 02

The question of providing week end leave transport for personnel at the RAF Station, Oakington,
evoked a good deal of discussion at the sitting of the Eastern Area Traffic Commissioners. Mr
Lainson (for Premier Travel) mentioned that his company sought to provide a new express service
from Oakington RAF to King's Cross, London. The proposed fare was 12s. 6d return. He also said
they were willing to provide a "feeder" service between Oakington and Cambridge Railway Station as
his company could not hope to carry 600 odd personnel direct to London. There were approximately
1,100 personnel on the camp and something like 600 were on weekends each week. In view of the
limited station transport it was impossible to cater for all the troops by running into Cambridge
Railway Station

1948 12 08

Cambridgeshire is the home base of some 50% of the RAF aircraft and crews at present bringing help
on the airlift to Berlin. Oakington, one of the war-time Pathfinder airfields, and Waterbeach, are the
two stations on which Dakota squadrons taking part in the lift have their home base. Another
Cambridge link is that the commander of the squadron equipped with Hastings transport aircraft is a
Cambridge man, Squadron-Leader P. J. Finlayson of Milton Road. He was the first man to pilot a
Hastings carrying coal into Gatow, one of the Berlin termini of the lift.

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1949 01 08

A chase through streets “more reminiscent of what one sees on the American films than in an
academic town”, was described when a corporal in the RAF police was charged with using a revolver
to prevent lawful apprehension and stealing £500. At the time of the offence he was acting as armed
escort to F/Lt Goldie of RAF station, Oakington, who collected the money from a Cambridge bank.

1950 04 06

A six-month search to find a girl worthy of the title of Cambridgeshire Village Beauty Queen ended at
the Embassy Ballroom with a win for Oakington. The competition was organised by Mr Leo Neaves
to raise money for the Cancer campaign. The winner was 17-years-old Mrs Vima Steam who received
a CDN Challenge Cup, an inscribed bannerette, a scarlet and white swimsuit and a tray. The second
prize went to Miss Balsham, June Morley, who received a silver-plated dish. Miss Duxford, Pauline
Warner, came third. Her prize was a handbag. A special prize for the best figure when to Sheila
Leftley of Elsworth who secured the much-coveted prize of nylons.

1950 09 18

For many of the 7,500 spectators the ‘At Home’ held at RAF station Oakington, (some of whom wore
handlebar moustaches and ex-service ties), probably brought back memories of wartime experiences.
Spectators poured in by bus, car and bicycle and some even walked or hitch-hiked. Small boys sat in
the pilot’s seat of the Prime Minister’s personal aircraft and imagined themselves airmen. The
‘beating-up’ of the aerodrome by a Meteor jet fighter from Waterbeach was probably the biggest thrill
of the afternoon.

1952 07 31

Part of the land allocated for recreational purposes at Oakington is now to be used for houses. And it
will be a “great improvement”, a District Councillor said. “At present if you stand on our cemetery
and recreation ground you get a fine view of the back gardens of Council houses with their washing
and hen houses and so forth. The proposal is to build a row of Council houses on the other side of
Queen’s Way so that the recreation ground will face the front of these new cottages instead of looking
into the back-doors. It will also relieve the Parish Council of a bit of land which had been assigned for
recreation purposes but which had been found to be rather a handful”. The Parish Councillors were
very favourably impressed with the proposal.

1952 08 16

The public concern about jet fighter crashes is not shared by the men most affected - the pilots who
fly the R.A.F.’s 600 m.p.h. Meteors and Vampires. On a special visit to the Advanced Flying School,
Oakington, I found not the slightest trace of alarm or despondency. The atmosphere fairly crackles
with energy and enthusiasm. Dozens of flights took place with smooth precision and at frequent
intervals the gleaming silver Meteors howled down the runway and shot up into the sky, many flown
by young National Servicemen who by the time they have finished their course are not only skilled jet
flyers but are beginning to know how to use their aircraft as weapons. The Chief Instructor, Wing
Commander Tomalin, persuaded me to accompany him on a half-hour trip in a Meteor two-seater

1952 09 08

A fete was held at Westwick Hall in aid of the Oakington Recreation Fund. Captain Taylor said that
big towns and cities were attracting the younger folk away from the countryside, tempting them to
leave the village for a life in the town. “We ought to provide the pleasures and recreation for our
younger folk by providing playing fields near their homes so they are encouraged to settle down to
country life”, he said

1952 09 10

Two Meteor jet aircraft collided in mid-air over Over. One of the pilots landed near the church & the
other near the Pike and Eel public house. The landlady observed: “We often have pilots calling here -
but not by parachute”. The electricity supply was cut when one of the planes struck an electric cable
in Mow Fen, Swavesey. The other fell in a meadow behind Station Road, Over. Firemen put out

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magnesium flames which broke out in one of the engines after its impact on hitting the ground. The
two aircraft were on a training flight from R.A.F. Station, Oakington

1952 09 22

Speeds of up to 660 mph were reached by more than 30 British and American jet aircraft which took
place in an “At Home” display at RAF Station, Duxford. Thousands of people watched the display
and similar ones at RAF Oakington, Debden and Upwood. It opened with a fly-past of three
Washington bombers which, together with the renowned Lincolns are now the only four-engined
piston bombers in service with the RAF. There was an exhibition of teamwork by one of Duxford’s
two squadrons of Meteor jets who took part in a mock dog-fight with U.S. F84 Thunder jets and a
display from the long-nosed Super Marine Attacker

1952 09 23

The lone Hurricane which always has the place of honour at the head of the air parade over London
was the opening item in the flying programme at Oakington RAF station’s Battle of Britain “At
Home”. Gusts of laughter swept the aerodrome during the comedy antics of a “pupil” in a Tiger Moth
who tried without a great deal of success to emulate his “instructor” and took part in a remarkable
exhibition of markmanship. The pilot was shooting at balloons on the ground and his firing was so
accurate as to be almost incredible - until the secret was revealed by the sudden bolt from cover of the
man who had been bursting the targets for him. He was not allowed to escape scot-free but was
bombarded with bags of flour and soot.

1952 10 02

Oakington Parish Council has withdrawn their objection to the building of a new road to replace the
one crossing the airfield which has been closed. They had claimed the scheme would be a waste of
public money, the road would be of no use to Oakington and the route would be a public danger. The
Air Ministry said the road would be lowered about two feet to ensure “flying clearance”

1952 11 24

The County Council have designs on a quarter of an acre of smallholdings let to Redgate Nurseries on
the comer of Hick’s Lane and Cambridge Road Girton. It is proposed to establish a police station and
house on the site which would give adequate supervision of the Huntingdon Road - a black spot for
accidents in the past. The County Police force has been undermanned since the war and better
accommodation would attract more recruits. The constable at Girton was responsible for policing the
parishes of Girton, Oakington and Westwick. A council house was not suitable; if a constable had to
detain a prisoner there was only the living room of the house available.

1953 01 28

The chairman of Histon parish council protested against a proposal that boundaries of the adjacent
parishes should be altered and 415 acres added to Girton. This was the third time that Girton had
asked for an extension; on the last occasion in 1934 Histon had agreed. Oakington also wanted
additional land, previously the site of the isolation hospital; the Cambridge road was their only source
of development since the aerodrome had taken 500 acres, the water supply was provided by the
village and residents would be able to avail themselves of the new recreation ground.

1953 04 14

An impressive ceremony was enacted at Swavesey parish church in the laying-up of the village’s
British Legion men’s and women’s section standards. Rain poured in torrents as a large procession of
British legion members from various branches headed by a combined band from the R.A.F. stations
Oakington and Upwood marched to the church where the congregation included children and First
World War veterans

1953 06 19

An open verdict was recorded at an inquest into the Venezuelan pilot of a Meteor jet plane which
crashed near Pasture Farm, Caxton. Wreckage was scattered over a wide area. PC Leonard from

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Caxton described how he was awakened at 1 .20 am by the roar of a low-flying aircraft. From his
window he saw a red flash and heard an explosion. The pilot had taken off from Oakington just before
midnight. He was in Britain as head of a Venezuela training mission.

1953 07 27

Chesterton RDC opened their new £15,000 store and depot, part of a 15-acre Oakington Estate
scheme. There is a site for housing, a recreation ground, a site for a village hall and one for a burial
ground for the parish. Three tiers of local government had contributed to it but there had been a lot of
objections from Whitehall. It was an extraordinary attitude and one that was quite deplorable. The
new building was of considerable architectural merit; it was by no means a horror

1954 03 19

At Oakington RAF station one of the runways is being re-surfaced with a one-inch topping of asphalt
- good for 10 or 15 years even with the harsh treatment it will get with the jet engines of the Vampire
T-l Is which are due when the flying school re-opens at Easter. Taxpayers will be glad to hear that
little is being wasted on the job - even the old runway surfacing is being used for the working course
on new landing strips at other airfields

1954 04 23 c

County Councillors say that as the Girton-Earith Road across Oakington airfield is now permanently
closed, and the need for a by-pass has gone then the land at Girton purchased for a by-pass should be
sold. Owing to the expansion of Bassingbourn aerodrome and building developments between
Bassingbourn and Kneesworth, the route for a future by-pass has now been transferred to the eastern
side of Kneesworth

1954 05 10

Longstanton’s new school for five to 1 1 -year-olds was opened - its gay colours and ultra-modern
interior flooded by sunlight. It has been built on the latest lines at the lowest cost with wide windows
providing natural lighting, three classrooms, an assembly hall, staff room and kitchen. Children of
airmen stationed at the neighbouring Oakington will go there and it will also take in pupils from the
overcrowded village Church of England school. Lord Tedder, Marshall of the R.A.F., said: “1 envy
the children. It really is a beautiful place”.

1954 08 16

The pilot of an RAF Vampire jet trainer from Oakington airfield was killed when his plane crashed
into a cornfield at Dry Drayton. He succeeded in missing 1 8 Council houses and women picking fruit
in a nearby orchard before the plane - smoke pouring from its tail - crashed into a field off the
Oakington Road. It is thought the pilot might have been attempting to make a forced landing and
crashed through a hedge before skidding along the ground for some distance. The engine and tail-
plane were 40 yards apart but still intact after the crash

1954 09 22

Oakington and Westwick Recreation Ground was opened in the shadow of the airfield as a memorial
to the fallen of the last war. Hubert Doggett, chairman of the parish council said: “We have been up
against terrible expense and the Council have been almost afraid to look at the figures.” Many of our
social evils arise because of the lack of playing fields and the appalling amount of deaths which occur
to young children on the roads today could be avoided if there were somewhere they could let off
steam. The children of the future would say ‘tha nk you’ to those who had carried out the work. It is
also planned to erect a Memorial Hall facing Queen’s Way

1954 09 27

A 78-year-old gardener was cycling across the perimeter track at Oakington RAF Station when he
was struck by a Vampire jet plane that was taxi-ing before take-off. The pilot saw the cyclist crossing
the dispersal area when travelling at 25 mph. He assumed the man would look to see if anything was
coming and would certainly hear the plane. It was a rule that aircraft always had the right of way. He

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added: “the cyclist took a 90 degrees turn towards me suddenly. I turned slightly to the right and my
left wing caught his neck”. All employees were required to sign a document that under no
circumstances could claims be made against the Air Ministry in the event of accidents to and from
work.

1954 12 03 c

A Vampire jet aircraft from RAF Oakington attempting to land on a disused runway at Bourn
aerodrome overshot and crashed across the main Cambridge to St Neots Road. It landed in a field and
burst into flames. The pilot managed to pull himself clear of the wreckage suffering from severe burns
and was given first aid by Sister Joan Webb of the Medical Research Department of Bourn Pest
Control. All that was recognisable of the wreckage was the tail assembly and jet engine propulsion
unit. The pavement on the other side of the road was smashed and crumpled by the impact when the
plane crashed.

1955 02 16

A Vampire jet aircraft on a training flight from Oakington crashed and exploded at Comberton, killing
the pilot. Flaming twisted mangled parts of the plane carpeted a 500 yards radius, a bullock was badly
injured and chickens were killed. A car was badly damaged. Pieces of the plane wreckage went
through the roof of the kitchen of Fox’s bridge Farmhouse where the farmer’s wife was working. She
described the noise as a ‘terrific tornado’ and flung herself down for safety. She tried to dial 999 but
the telephone wires had been cut by the crashing aircraft. 55 02 16a

1955 04 29

A mixed throng of 1,400 people revelled to non-stop music by the U.S. Air Force ‘Glenn Miller’

Band in the N.A.A.F.I. canteen at Oakington R.A.F. station. It was this band that starred in the film hit
‘The Glenn Miller Story’ and many of the players were recognised. From the moment the band struck
up it made an enthralling impact on the audience with the old favourites including ‘String of Pearls’,
‘In the Mood’ and ‘Night and Day’. The audience was one of the warmest and most receptive the
band has met in their travels. 55 04 29 c & d

1955 05 18

A judge was asked to decide who was liable for the cost of repairs to the chancel of Oakington
church. It was damaged in the winter of 1948 and the repairs cost £80. Messrs Chi vers had paid but
claimed the Air Ministry should contribute £14 towards the cost. But they said it was the
responsibility of Queens’ College who had sold them the land in October 1940. It was a very small
matter but of great importance. 55 05 18

1955 05 28

Judgement has been given on who is liable for repairs to the chancel of Oakington church which was
damaged in the winter of 1948. Messrs Chivers have paid but claimed that the Air Ministry should
also contribute. But they said it was the responsibility of Queens’ College. However the judge said the
college had sold the land in 1940 and had no further liability for repair. The Ministry should paid £14
towards the costs. 55 05 28

1955 11 15

A Vampire jet from RAF Oakington skimmed over Rampton before crash-landing in a field. The pilot
managed to miss council houses and touched down, bouncing over and ditch and hedge before
coming to rest in an orchard. Several villagers did not hear any explosion and only realised a plane
had crashed when the saw the flames. 55 11 15

1956 02 21

The names of Cambridgeshire civilian casualties from the last war are included in a roll of honour
which was handed over for safe-keeping in Westminster Abbey. It has been placed in a memorial case
within a few paces of the Unknown Warrior’s Grave and a page will be turned daily. It includes the
names of T.R. Samsen who was killed near Oakington, Pamela Turner, an evacuee of Old Bank

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Prickwillow, Fred Stanley of the Hone Guard who was killed at Pampisford and Albert Stones of
March. 56 02 21a &b

1956 05 24

Princess Alexandra was fascinated by a close-up view of a Vampire training aircraft when she visited
RAF Oakington Flying Training Command Station and asked if she could have a ride. She burst into
laughter at the sight of the pilot wearing the latest type of space-man crash helmet. It was her first
visit to the Royal Air Force and she was Reviewing Officer at a passing-out parade for 15 newly-
qualified pilots. 56 05 24a b c

1956 06 06

The pilot of a Mark 5 Vampire training jet based at R.A.F. Oakington was forced to bale out of his
machine while flying over Littleport. He landed safely in Camel Road and the plane crashed at the
side of a cornfield at Black Bank, Lt Downham causing a crater 15 feet deep. Norah Garner and
Neville Constable ran to the wreckage and could see there was no one in it. The nose was sticking up
in the air. 56 06 06a

1956 08 18

Rev R.L. Hale became vicar of Longstanton in 1950 where in addition to his spiritual duties he took a
great interest in young people’s activities and two years ago conducted a service which was broadcast
from All Saint’s church. He has been officiating Church of England chaplain to RAF Oakington
where in an unobtrusive way he made his presence felt at ceremonial services, passing-out parades
and prayers. Now he is leaving for a large housing estate at Sheffield. 56 08 18

1956 08 31

At Oakington airfield there is a station cinema, the NAAFI provides television and haircuts and shoe
repairs are free. A civilian tailor comes every week to fit the men for their uniforms and pyjamas are
part of the Service issue. There is one full armed parade a month but most time is devoted to teaching
young pilots to fly. It has enough ground staff for a large village since it takes from 50 to 80 people to
keep one plane in the air, most are fitters and mechanics who tend the Vampires. 56 08 3 Id & e

1956 10 20

A most thoughtful exhibition called ‘Wonders of the Bible’ is housed in a giant pantechnicon whose
sides hinge down to provide a room as big as an averaged-sized village hall. It was built by two
pastors who have spent two years working on it in a disused hangar at Graveley. It is standing at the
moment in Oakington RAF station and the first visitors were the officers and men. After three weeks
there it will move to . . . where? 56 10 20a & b

1957 12 04

An Oakington farm has been judged the best of its kind in the country. It stands within the boundaries
of the Royal Air Force base and is looked after by its civilian manager, ‘Mac’ McAvoy, assisted by
the wives of service personnel and by children who are fascinated by the 250 pigs when the food
bucket is clanged. Enough potatoes, greens, carrots and turnips are grown to supply the winter needs
of the entire airfield. 57 12 04

1957 12 18

Oakington was not a village which was going to increase, because of limited access and the proximity
of the airfield, planners told an inquiry. But a petition backed proposals for new housing and a little
light industry: it would improve amenities and move the centre of gravity of the village away from the
airfield. The noise of aircraft taking off across the village made telephone conversations difficult,
residents complained. 57 12 18b

1958 07 18

Two residents appealed to develop land they owned at Water Lane, Oakington; it was near the shops
and schools and was one of the finest sites for building. But the County Council say that since 1948

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there have been 24 private houses built and there were 17 acres for which development had already
been agreed. “One has to be realistic and face the fact that Oakington is not going to expand” If
anybody wished to build a house in the Cambridge area they would not go to Oakington to do it. 58
07 18.

1958 07 31

Oakington sewage scheme - 58 07 31b
1958 12 05

Two airmen from Oakington airfield had miraculous escapes when their Vampire jet trainer crashed
on the main railway line bordering the airfield and skidded 200 yards across a ploughed field. The
plane had taken off from the main runway when its engine failed. It rapidly lost height and at 100 mph
hit the main ‘down’ Cambridge -Huntingdon railway line, shedding its undercarriage before knocking
down fences and coming to rest. Both lines were blocked for half an hour but workmen soon had the
damage repaired. 58 12 05

1958 12 29

Coun Burkitt, Chairman of the County Council, made a Christmas Day visit to Midfield Children’s
Home, Oakington where children were playing happily with their presents and one presented him with
an ash tray he had made. At the Grange Children’s Home, Swavesey the children were given an
additional treat when he played carols on the piano while at Willingham House Old People’s Home he
admired the turkey which the residents were going to have for their dinner. 58 12 29

1959 05 27

British Railways announce that passenger train services between St Ives and Kettering and the freight
train services from Buckden and Grafham stations will be withdrawn on June 15th. In addition trains
running between Cambridge and St Ives on weekdays which at present serve Kettering will also be
withdrawn. Arrangements will be made to augment the service to St Ives by the 10.17 am Cambridge
to Peterborough train calling at Histon, Oakington, Longstanton and Swavesey stations and an
additional train leaving for St Ives at 5.15pm calling at all stations. 59 05 27a

1959 10 15

A Vampire jet trainer aircraft which was formation flying with three others ploughed through
electricity cables before crashing on its back in a field at Meadow Farm near Elsworth. Thousands of
gallons of foam were poured on the wreckage by members of the Oakington RAF Station Fire
Brigade and spectators were told to keep well clear as one of the ejector seats in the aircraft had not
gone off and bare electricity cables were smouldering and sparking in the stubble. 59 10 15b

1959 10 03

RAF Oakington Meteor crash near Willingham - pics 59 10 03
1959 10 16

Oakington aeroplane remembered - 59 10 16
1959 10 30

Oakington aeroplane - 59 10 30a & b, f & g
1959 11 03

Oakington plane crash - 59 1 1 03

1959 11 13

Grose monoplane Oakington - picture - 59 11 13b

1960 01 18

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Oakington railway station is one of the busiest in the area: 80 trains pass daily, 14 of them stopping
passenger trains. However many RAF passengers from Oakington airfield find it easier to reach their
living quarters from Long Stanton station and services can be disrupted by plane crashes. Large
quantities of fruit are still sent ‘up North’ but there is increasing competition from road haulage firms.
One farmer says he prefers the rail as the fresh air blowing through the trucks helps to keep the fruit
fresh. But the station suffered when a large local farming concern changed hands and nearly 700 tons
of sugar beet was not grown. 60 01 18a & b

1960 07 18

A four day manhunt for ‘Gipsy Jack’ ended when he was found in a secret hideout inside his mother’s
hut in the gipsy encampment near Oakington where he had been since he shot and battered a woman
in the corner of a cornfield. Superintendent John du Rose of Scotland Yard realised the old railway
carriage was shorter inside than out and pulled away a chest of drawers from an old wooden partition
But ‘Gipsy Jack’ shot himself in the head with a shotgun before please could break in 60 07 18a 60
07 14 60 07 18 60 07 18a

1960 12 16

Amongst those working on Christmas Day will be 30 men at RAF Oakington. Being a training school
and operational station there must be a handful of men to tend the sick and guard the vital installations
on the base. They will have a six-course Christmas dinner served by officers and senior NCOs plus
free beer and cigarettes. They can then relax with a book or in front of the television, hoping that no
crises will arise to disturb their peace. But if it does there are an additional 150 men in the near
vicinity who can be called in for reinforcements. 60 12 16a

1961 04 26

An Old Persean, 23-year-old Flying Officer Peter Neville Perry from Doddington, became the
youngest RAF pilot ever to assume command of a V-bomber when he took off in a Valiant from RAF
Honington. Perry trained at RAF Oakington before taking a captain’s course for the most promising
and ambitious student pilots. Previously only pilots with 15 years flying experience have been
considered for the job. Mr Stubbs, Headmaster of the Perse, said he had a good academic record and
was never hasty: he would think things out carefully before making a decision. 61 04 26c

1961 08 24

Histon station has completed a hat-trick of wins in the garden section of the annual competition for
best-kept station. They are one of four in the region to gain the top award of £10 which will go
towards the cost of seeds and plants for next year. The new stationmaster, A.S.G. Harris, has taken a
keen interest in the competition with strong support from his three porters who have done the bulk of
the work. Longstanton, Oakington and St Ives stations also won recognition. 61 08 24b

1961 09 08

Oakington was unsuitable for major residential development, the County Development Control
Officer told an inquiry. It had mains electricity, gas and water but a sewage system was not expected
for three or four years and the school was already overcrowded. There is a distinct danger of
development outstripping the services available. Cottenham, Girton, Histon and Milton were more
suitable. But there were swarms of builders after any land for which planning permission had been
granted. The developer said there was a heavy demand for houses in the £2,000 range and he would
install an estate sewage disposal system 6 1 09 08a

1962 12 07

Two railway lines in Cambridgeshire are under threat following Dr Beeching’s proposals. All lines
transporting less than 10,000 people and 10,000 tons of freight a week may close. This includes the
line from Cambridge through Histon and Oakington and the one to Mildenhall through Burwell. Fruit
growers would be seriously affected and have to switch to road transport, putting up prices. Rural bus
services are another failure of Government policy and had been cut because they were unprofitable, a
Labour meeting was told 62 12 07c # c.26.2

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1963 09 04

With eleven airfields within a 25-mile radius of Cambridge no-one is immune from the noise. But few
experience such consistent interference with their sleep as the villagers of Cottenham, Girton, Histon
and Dry Drayton which lie on a circuit used by planes of the flying school at Oakington where the
night flying programme goes on until three o’clock in the morning. Residents have complained to MP
Francis Pym but the Air Minister says the noisy Varsity aircraft cannot be moved to another station.

63 09 04

1964 06 09

Large twin-engined Vickers Varsity aircraft warm up their engines as Oakington Flying Training
School start another period of night flying. The planes lumber round to the end of the runway, pause
to allow safety checks and then haul themselves into the sky. Villagers attempting to sleep complain
that all they do at Oakington is night flying and urge the RAF to relocate to quieter areas. But it is an
essential part of the flying curriculum. 64 06 09

1964 07 05

Snowy the roadman is the first person newcomers to Oakington notice, for he always wears a ‘bowler’
to work. Walter Reginald Farr was born in Longstanton and has been a roadman eight years. He has
three bowlers including a Sunday best which he only wears at weekends with his dress suit when he
goes for a walk. ‘Snowy’ sports a colourful, grizzled beard, yellow at its thickest but now greying at
the sides. His face is a lobster read and he has bright, friendly blue eyes. He takes a pride in the
village and there is no doubt the village take a pride in him. 64 07 05

1964 08 03

Midfield House at Oakington is a reception centre for children in need of care. Some are short-term
visitors, others are admitted under the Children’s Act. Every child brings a problem. They are
assessed and transferred to a home at Shelford, to foster-parents or sent for training. There is plenty to
keep them mentally fit and interested. Up to five share a daintily decorated bedroom and parents are
encouraged to visit whenever possible. Some, after rehabilitation, return to their families. 64 08 03a

1964 09 26

Dry Drayton has more than its fair share of problems, villagers claim. It is lacking essential amenities
and facilities. It has no recreation ground with swings and mothers of young children live in daily fear
of the heavy lorries that speed through. The sewerage system is inadequate, buses infrequent and the
aircraft from RAF Oakington fly low at night. Money has been raised for a new hall but nothing has
been done, leaving just the old hut. “We have to play bingo with gloves on in winter, it’s so cold in
there” one pensioner complains. 64 08 26a

1965 10 15

Oakington grave of Francis Holcroft - feature - 65 10 15g

1967 11 03

Snowy Farr, Oakington village roadman going about his duties on a colourful tricycle dustcart he built
for himself - photo - 67 1 1 03a

1968 01 18

Oakington White Horse pub closed since Christmas, to reopen - 68 01 18a

1969 05 21

Snowy Farr, Oakington roadman with trike and top hat - 69 05 21
1971 07 15

RAF Oakington trains pilots - feature - 71 07 15 # c.26. 1

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1972 05 12

Robinson and Gimbert, the Cambridge builders with reputation for high class work have been taken
over by one of the "big boys" of British home building. From next week they will be trading under the
direction of T & E Homes ltd of Reigate. The Cambridge firm who started in Guildhall Street 25 years
ago and moved to Victoria Road six years ago have 60 full time employees. Robinson and Gimbert
currently have schemes on the go at Oakington and Stapleford, and recently completed one at
Waterbeach. They build about 50 houses a year

1972 08 12

Castles in the air are all very well but when it came to haystacks in the sky villagers at Histon began
to think they were really dreaming. Airborne straw rained down on the village yesterday and clumps
of it were scattered over roads and in the gardens of puzzled residents. Seven year old Carmen Moore,
who watched the whole event said; "1 thought it was very funny seeing haystacks in the sky". The
mystery of the falling straw was solved by the R.A.F. Oakington meteorological office. A spokesman
said "This comes from burning fields of stubble. The heat from the ground can lift loose straw up to
10,000 feet and it can travel as much as 30 miles before it falls down again"

1972 09 08

Just in case The Bomb should ever drop, eight powerful new air raid warning sirens are to be installed
in Cambridgeshire. Although few people ever see or hear them, the Home Office has about 22,000
warning points in the United Kingdom equipped with electric or hand sirens for air attack warnings
and maroons for fall-out warnings. Now they are to be replaced by powerful compressed-air sirens
which are much more efficient and much louder. The eight which are to be installed in
Cambridgeshire will be at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge, Waterbeach Barracks, Oakington airfield,
Great Wilbraham, the old Duxford airfield, Bassingbourn Barracks Lt Eversden & Linton

1972 12 19

Snowy Farr, the self-styled King of the Road, who has raised more than £1,400 for the blind in two
years, has been priced off the road with the tractor that tows his mobile menagerie. Since Snowy
bought the tractor two years ago to replace the tricycle he had used previously he has driven it on a £5
a year concessionary licence. But now he has been told that he must have a general haulage tractor
licence which costs £60 and he says he hasn't got the money. Snowy first became famous when the
cart he used for his work as a roadman around Oakington began to take on a very individual
appearance as he added to its basic shape. He then started to take his pet animals with him. Someone
suggested he should raise money for charity because so many people gathered to see his mobile show
wherever he went.

1973 07 05

Oakington, the last operational RAF airfield in Cambridgeshire is to close down and will be sold off
within two years, the Defence Lands Committee have recommended. The committee also says that
other mid- Anglian airfields and military sites should be returned to civilian use and over 600 acres of
land at Molesworth should be sold. It was a bomber base during the war and is now used as a United
States Air Force stores and housing complex in association with their use of RAF Alconbury

1974 07 1 1

The bells of Oakington church are ringing again after 50 years silence thanks to the efforts of four
boys from the village. For almost a year, Graham Brasnett, aged 13, Tony Moore, 12, his brother
David, 11, and their friend Michael Cleaver, 1 1, who all live in Water Lane, have been helping the
vicar to repair the 300-year-old bells which experts said would never ring again. The vicar, Rev.

James Alexander, said he was very pleased the bells were ringing again. His only disappointment:
“They don’t have a very beautiful ring”

1974 08 10

The decision to close down the RAF base at Oakington, first announced in 1972, was confirmed
yesterday. There were tears in the eyes of many workers when Wing Commander G.J. Daly made the

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announcement. Mr Ivan Cockbill of Willingham, a chef at the station since 1970 said: “We hoped the
closure would be shelved”. Another worker, Mr Martin Rainesford, of Cambridge, who has worked at
the base for 17 years said: “We are all sorry to see it close down”. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
will take over the base in April next year

1974 09 24

Fears were expressed at a special meeting of Longstanton parish council that the village would
become a “garrison town” when the army take over the RAF Oakington in April. The chairman said
plans for 200 extra married quarters made a complete nonsense of the village plan. They are
recommending that the quarters, if built, should be on the other side of Oakington’s airfield, adjacent
to that village. Although one member suggested the council were “passing the buck” others felt there
was “nothing wrong” with building the quarters in the next village. Oakington had been pressing for
expansion

1974 11 06

The departure of the last pilot training aircraft from RAF Oakington - a Varsity T Mark 1 - saw the
end of an era at the base, which is due to be taken over by the army in March next year. The Varsity is
the last of 31 used at the base since 1951. From 1962, about 1400 trainee pilots have recorded 60,000
landings at the airfield. The Varsity completed a sweep above the village and two fly-pasts at low-
level before heading to its new home at Cottesmore in Lincolnshire.

1975 01 03

The meteorological office at RAF Oakington, which has kept weather records and made forecasts in
Cambridgeshire since the second war is to close down. The closure of the office brings a step nearer
the handover of the base in April to the army. Flying has ceased now. The weather area was a 50-mile
radius around Oakington for flying purposes but forecasting for the public extended throughout
Cambridgeshire

1975 01 10

The road across Oakington airfield linking it with Longstanton may be reopened to buses, cyclists and
pedestrians. It was closed 18 years ago when the airfield was established. County Surveyor Mr Robert
Lacey said he doubted if there was a case for the reopening of the road to all traffic because the
building of the Bar Hill flyovers nearby would give a better access to Longstanton than through
neighbouring villages

1975 01 18

The question of whether to re-open the road across Oakington airfield is developing into an inter-
village row. Villagers at Oakington and Girton say they do not want the road opened to traffic, but a
number of people at Longstanton are in favour of the idea. The chairman of their parish council
pointed out the new flyover on the A604 would cut out most of the inconvenience and danger to
motorists and this may well be completed before any decision on the airfield road is taken.

1975 02 03

Cambridgeshire chief constable, F. Drayton Porter, suggested that the defunct RAF station at
Oakington could be used to house the county’s problem children. This would prevent them being held
in police stations and prisons when there was nowhere else for them to go. “This kind of
accommodation could well be ideal. After all the housing of the Ugandan Asians in RAF stations was
done in a matter of days”, he said. A plan to build a prison for young offenders on part of the disused
Duxford airfield was dropped in 1973.

1975 03 21

Cambridge has become a garrison town, with more soldiers living within a 10-mile radius of the city
than University dons. With the arrival of a new infantry regiment at Oakington there are now 2,500
soldiers in the area with 2,000 dependants. Most of the troops are stationed at Bassingbourn with the

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Oakington Scrapbook 1897 to 1990 by Mike Petty

army engineers at the former battle of Britain RAF station at Waterbeach. There is no larger
concentration of troops than this in East Anglia, other than at Colchester.

1976 01 31

The old signal box on the Cambridge to St Ives railway line at Oakington was loaded on to a lorry and
taken to the Bressingham Steam Museum near Diss. The box, one of the few remaining Great Eastern
types dating back to the early 1900s, was bought several years ago by railway enthusiast Mr Mike
Sharman, who lives at Foxton. However he ran into snags when he wanted to move the box to his
home so he presented it to the museum.

1976 10 18

A new sport was devised by an Oakington farmer, Mr D.W. Chapman: spud picking. Not the orderly
picking carried out each year by part-time fenland workers but a less-refined version invented by
ordinary people intent on surviving in inflation-hit Britain. The offer was 7p a pound for Red Desiree.
“We dig, you pick” said the advertisement in the News. With forecasts of spuds costing at least 20p a
pound by Christmas is was an offer not to be scorned; like diving seagulls people swooped, grabbing,
scraping and grovelling. Others wandered off to a quiet spot, kicked away the top soil and clawed out
the potatoes with their bare hands. One man lifted 12 plants and then noticed his wife was selecting
the whoppers and leaving the rest for the vultures. “To hell with that”, he said, throwing down his
fork, “Em off to the pub”

1977 07 25

Parishioners at Oakington have raised nearly £5,000 to repair the church bells. On Saturday four bells
were taken down from the tower by a group of villagers; by doing a lot of the manual work they have
kept the costs down. The bells need a new frame to replace the present one which is 300 years old.
They also need retuning and a fifth bell is being recast at Loughborough.

1978 10 13

Pleas from villagers at Oakington for South Cambs District Council to get rid of ‘slum’ homes for
problem council tenants have been turned down. The Housing Committee decided it needed the 30-
year-old prefabricated bungalows at The Broadway as temporary accommodation for problem
families or the homeless. But Coun Tom Flanagan said “It is very unfair to put so many problem cases
into a small village like Oakington. There is often violence in the area and the problem could erupt at
any time”. Other residents complained that the area was a ‘slum’ with an ‘unpleasant and dangerous
environment’

1979 01 23

The railway line between Swavesey and Cambridge will be used for a passenger service on March
31st for the first time since its closure in 1971. Trains will call at Longstanton, Oakington and Histon
- at least for one day. A special train is being organised by the Railway Development Society in
conjunction with British Rail. It will leave Swavesey at 1pm and arrive at Cambridge an hour later,
returning at 5.30 pm. The fare for adults will be about £1, children 75p and cycles free.

1980 03 24

Rail transport enthusiasts who want the Cambridge to St Ives branch line re-opened have hired a 10-
coach Inter-City train. It will set off from Swavesey station and call at Longstanton, Oakington and
Histon before running non-stop to Liverpool Street. The branch line closed to passengers in October
1970 but the track has been kept open by block freight trains carrying Spanish oranges and pulp to
Cadburys at Histon and bringing out sand from Amey Roadstone. But the track has recently been
lifted beyond Fen Drayton and the station site at St Ives has been obliterated by the new by-pass. 80
03 24

1980 12 18

The headmaster at Longstanton School is finding that the academic needs of his pupils are
outstripping their financial resources. He gets £10 per year for every child, which has to cover

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Oakington Scrapbook 1897 to 1990 by Mike Petty

everything. Two-thirds of the children come from service families at the Oakington Barracks and
because the Army moves a whole battalion at a time, the school’s population changes literally
overnight every two and a half years. This raises problems for the village children who are there all
the time. 80 12 18

1984 01 12

An unemployed teenager pocked thousands of pounds from church offertory boxes after 400 raids on
churches. On one occasion he sat in St Edward’s church, Cambridge and watched an old woman put
an envelope containing £70 into a church box then fished it out for himself. Amongst his targets were
the Round Church - 52 thefts, Little St Mary’s (46). Burwell church (42) and Swaffham Prior (26).

He was finally caught after the Vicar of Oakington heard him inside the church opening drawers. He
was sent to a detention centre for four months. 84 01 12 pl6

1984 04 27

Council prefabs in The Broadway, Oakington were in a ‘diabolical’ state; they would need substantial
repairs and had been a target for vandals. They should be demolished with the site redeveloped and
the road renamed, some councillors felt. They decided include temporary housing - provided for the
homeless and bad tenants - in their normal repairs policy though some were concerned that the homes
would be improved to the point when they were no longer a deterrent 84 04 27 p9

1984 05 21

A mysterious killer beast has struck again, slaughtering half a dozen chickens at Oakington. Big paw
prints found in the chicken run give a fresh boost to claims that a puma is at large in the area. It is the
latest in a series of terror attacks on animals: in March a cat was mauled in Histon and rabbits killed
when their hutch was ripped open, while at Landbeach a pet duck was carried off by a large animal.

84 05 21 p3

1985 02 20

This year for the first time in living memory Cottenham people can stand in their gardens off the High
Street and see across to the Oakington Road. It was once a mass of orchards. Today there are only one
or two left scattered amidst seas of arable land. The acreage of fruit in Cottenham has slumped from
900 at the end of the war to well under 300 in recent years. One of the last orchards to disappear was
worked by Frank Peacock and comprised 65 acres of mainly Cox apples, Conference pears and
pollinators. But it became uneconomic and the Government gives grants towards grubbing them up 85
02 20 & a

1986 05 22

A new town for up to 18,000 people may be created as a cure for Cambridge’s spiralling housing
needs. It would include shops, pubs, leisure facilities and 150 acres of supporting industry. Two
possible sites are the A 10 Waterbeach-Landbeach area and the Caxton, Bourn and Swavesey area
between the A45 and A604. One solution would be if the Ministry of Defence could be persuaded to
leave either Waterbeach or Oakington bases. But County planners have rejected any new settlement
south of Cambridge, fearing housing would be snapped up by Ml 1 and railway commuters 86 05 22

1986 06 04

Wilfreda Leakey was the original secretary of the Girton and Oakington Child Welfare Centre
established in 1936. The warm, friendly atmosphere was a focus for village life where mothers could
get expert help on child care from the visiting doctors and nurses. During the war it ensured children
received supplies of food and vitamins and when toothbrushes were impossible to find they obtained a
consignment that they sold for threepence each. A library lending books on child care to mothers and
reading material for the youngsters started in the 1940s and continues to this day. Now she has written
its history. 86 06 04a

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Oakington Scrapbook 1897 to 1990 by Mike Petty

1986 06 23

British Rail is considering reopening part of the disused Cambridge -Huntingdon railway to provide
extra transport for the suggested new village in the Swavesey area. They would use the existing
platforms at Swavesey, Longstanton and Oakington but would have to build a new one at Histon.

Most of the line closed to passenger traffic some years ago but some is used for occasional freight
trains to the Chivers factory and fruit orchard complexes 86 06 23

1987 04 14

Frederick Moore is retiring from the company he started over 50 years ago. After some initial work at
Oakington he moved to the present Histon Road site in 1937 where most of the work involved re-
boring car engines. Extensions were built in the early ‘50s and late ‘60s when the workforce climbed
to 36-strong. Now one of Cambridge’s oldest engineering firms, it carries out general motor
engineering and machine tool-grinding. The business has been bought by Griffin Machine Tools of
Keighley, Yorkshire who may build a new workshop on the site 87 04 14

1988 01 07

Oakington and Longstanton villagers are fighting the Army’s proposals to build a mock battlefield
near their homes. Two lakes would be dug out to create a series of mounds for general infantry
training and another for practice helicopter landings. As the Army is not subject to normal planning
rules it could use bulldozers noisier than four combine harvesters, which would be unbearable,
residents complain. But SCDC say the airfield has been there 47 years and troops must be trained
somewhere 88 01 07b

1988 02 22

The Territorial Army staged a massive exercise as 300 soldiers firing blank ammunition brought war
to the Cambridge area. Enemy forces were advancing from Haverhill, blowing up bridges on the A45
and imaginary infantrymen were sent to engage them. Countless ‘casualties’ were ferried by
helicopter to the main dressing station at Oakington Barracks where they were treated by volunteers
and doctors from Mid Anglia health services. One specialist unit was kept busy appeasing local
residents’ complaints about disturbances. 88 02 22

1988 10 10

The road between Longstanton and Oakington, across the airfield, may be opened for general use - 88
10 10

1989 08 31

The 1830 Beer Act encouraged people to set up beer houses to combat the problem of gin drinking.

By 1 840 Oakington had eight pubs and another, the New Inn, opened when the railway came. The
flourishing fruit trade brought a lot of business but the closure of the line in 1970 saw a big drop in
sales and in it was suddenly closed by the brewery. This leaves just the White Horse which was first
shown in records of 1765 89 08 31a

1989 09 26

Military bases on terror alert following IRA bombing, Oakington tested - 89 09 26

1990 03 13

Royal Highland Fusiliers at Oakington - feature - 90 03 13a & b
1990 03 24

Hundreds of people swamped the first passenger train between Swavesey and Cambridge for 20 years
and at least 200 were left standing. The special service, chartered by the Railway Development
Society was overwhelmed. There were 500 waiting at Swavesey, 100 at Longstanton, 200 at
Oakington and another 100 at Histon. The train arrived at Cambridge station more than 20 minutes
late. 90 03 24b 90 03 26a # c.26.2

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